High-pressure axial flow machine



Nov.'12, 1963 K. OECHSLIN 10,43

HIGH-PRESSURE AXIAL FLOW MACHINE Filed July 13, 1961 INVENTOR. Konra d Dec hs lin A torneys.

United States Patent 3,116,437 ESE-PRESSURE AXEAL FLOW MACHINE Konrad @echslin, Zurich, fawitzeriand, asm'gnor to Escher vJyss Ahtiengeseiischaft, Zurich, Switzerland, a corporation of Switzerland Filed Early 13, 1961, Bar. No. 123,773 Qlaims priority, application Switzerland .iuiy 2t 1955) 1 flaim. (ill. 2363-422) This invention relates to a high-pressure axial flow machine.

it may happen, for example in the case of hot-air turbine installations, that the suction side of the compressor is already under considerable gas pressure. The conventional types of compressor housing with their complicated shape are, however, unsuitable for taking up high internal pressures. They imply considerable wall thicknesses for meeting the stress by the internal pressure, in connection with which, in the case of the castings, it is necessary to make an allowance for any eventual inaccuracies of manufacture. The compressor housing therefore becomes very heavy and expensive.

According to the invention, in a high-pressure axial flow machine, this disadvantage is obviated by the fact that the housing is constructed as a welded sheet-metal construction in spherical form, and that the guide-blade carrier is arranged within this spherical housing and is connected to the latter by an annular wall which divides the spherical cavity axially into an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber for the flow medium.

The spherical form results in uniform, practically nonflexural stressing of the housing, and therefore smaller wall thicknesses sufiice, compared with constructions heretofore. In addition, the costs of making a casting pattern are eliminated.

A constructional example of the subject of the invention is shown in simplified form in the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows an axial longitudinal section through a multi-stage axial compressor, and

FIG. 2 shows a section on the line IIII of FIG. 1.

The compressor has a housing 1 substantially formed by a spherical shell with radius R, welded together from individual sheet-metal sections 2, 3, 4, 5. The centre of the sphere lies on the compressor axis. Supporting members 6 and 7 for receiving the bearings 8 and 9, respectively, for the compressor shaft 10 are welded in diametrically opposite positions to the spherical housing 1.

The guide-blade carrier consists of a substantially hollow cylindrical body 11. This is mounted inside the spherical housing 1 and is connected to the latter by an annular partition 12 constructed in the form of a conical shell. At the transition between partition 12 and housing 1 there is provided a reinforcing ring 13, to which the parts 2, 3, 4, of the housing 1 and the partition 12 are welded.

On the inside, the partition 12 is welded to a ring 14, in which is inserted the guide-blade carrier 11. A guide plate 15, connected to the housing 1, and a further guide plate 16 welded to the ring 14 together confine an annular diffuser channel 17 adjoining the outlet end of the corn: pressor blading. '7 l i 3=,i WAS? Patented Nov. 12, 1963 On the inlet side, the guide-blade carrier has an annular heading 1%. This beading 18 together with an annular projection 19 of the bearing support '7 confines a nozzlelike inlet duct 2% for the flow medium. The beading 18 is carried in a ring 22 fixed by ribs 21 to the housing 1.

The partition 12 divides the spherical cavity axially into an inlet chamber 23, from which the gas to be delivered passes through the duct 29 into the compressor blading, and an outlet chamber 24', adjoining the diffuser channel 17. The gas is supplied to the inlet chamber 23 through a connection 25, and leaves the outlet chamber 24 through another connection 26.

The housing 1 is split in a horizontal plane passing through the compressor axis into two detachably-connected halves, one of which consists substantially of the parts 2 and 3 and the other substantially of the parts 4 and 5. The parts 2 and 3 and 4 and 5 are provided with flanges 2 7 and 28, respectively, along the plane of division, these flanges being connected together by bolts. Partial flanges 29 and 3d are also provided respectively on the guide-blade carrier 11 and on the partition 12. For tightening the bolts holding these flanges together, the housing interior is accessible through the inlet connection 25.

The construction of an axial flow machine, illustrated by the example of a compressor, may be used appropriately also for a turbine.

If desired, the parts 3, 5 of the housing confining the inlet chamber 23 may be made of a different radius from the parts 2, 4 confining the outlet chamber 24.

What is claimed is:

An axial flow machine for a high pressure fluid medium comprising axially spaced bearings; a shaft journalled therein; a bladed rotor on the shaft intermediate the bearings; a housing carried by the bearings and consisting of a generally spherical shell and made up of a plurality of sheet metal sections; a guide blade carrier within the housing and coacting with the rotor; a reinforcing ring connected between adjacent axially spaced portions of the housing and lying in a plane transverse to the axis of the shaft; supporting means for the carrier connected with the housing and including an imperforate frustoconical partition, the large diameter base of the partition being connected to the ring, and the small diameter base of the partition being connected to the carrier; inlet and outlet openings formed in the housing on opposite sides of the partition; an annular guide plate adjoining the outlet end of the blade carrier; and a second guide plate connected to the housing, said plates coacting to define an annular flaring diifusor channel for the medium flowing from the interior of the guide blade carrier into the outlet chamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,815,645 Downs Dec. 10, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,230,297 France Mar. 28, 1960 1,238,737 France July 11 1 960 

